The Milwaukee Bucks reached the midpoint of the season with a 17-24 record after Thursday’s loss in San Antonio, their poorest first-half mark since 2015-16. Despite the slide, team executives remain adamant that Giannis Antetokounmpo will not be moved this year and are focused on adding a high-impact player to support the two-time MVP.
“We always manage to pull something off,” a team source told ESPN’s Jamal Collier.
Morant Talks and Draft-Pick Hesitation
Among the names tied to Milwaukee is Ja Morant. League sources told HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto that Memphis asked for guard Ryan Rollins and the Bucks’ only tradable first-round selection—either the 2031 or 2032 pick—during preliminary conversations. According to Collier, Milwaukee has resisted including that pick in any deal, indicating it would surface only for a clear star. Morant, a two-time All-Star, has battled injuries and declining production, muddying his current valuation.
Blueprint from the Trae Young Deal
Collier pointed to Washington’s recent acquisition of Trae Young as a possible template. The Wizards surrendered no draft capital and sent out a large expiring contract, allowing Atlanta to shed Young’s $49 million player option for 2026-27. Milwaukee could attempt a similar move for a player on a multi-year contract, with Zach LaVine, Malik Monk, and Jerami Grant among the options linked to the Bucks. Collier also cited Andrew Wiggins and Miles Bridges as additional examples.
Portis, Monk, Ellis Featured in Early Talks
Scotto reports that Milwaukee and Sacramento have discussed a framework sending Bobby Portis and a minimum-salary player to the Kings for Monk and Keon Ellis. Pursuing higher-salary targets such as Morant or LaVine would require Milwaukee to include more rotation pieces to meet cap rules. The front office has already gauged interest around Kyle Kuzma (cap hit $22.4 million) and Portis ($13.4 million) for matching purposes, Scotto noted.
Long-Term Flexibility vs. Immediate Push
The Bucks could be better positioned for a major move in the 2026 offseason, when up to three first-round picks (2026, 2031, 2033) become trade-eligible. Still, with a +7.7 net rating when Antetokounmpo is on the floor this season, Milwaukee’s front office is not ready to abandon its current campaign—despite skepticism from some rival executives.
“At some point, you’re just digging deeper and deeper,” an Eastern Conference executive told ESPN. “There might not be light at the end of the tunnel. It might just be a hole.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
